A quantitative estimate of agglutinins in three Shigella flexneri antisera.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2144/10860

Abstract

The Flexner group of dysentery organisms contains a number of strains classified together because of their close physiological and serological properties. The serological relationships of this group have been determined qualitatively by Boyd and Wheeler. According to these investigators, each Flexner type is distinguished by the presence in the cell of an antigen characteristic of that type. This antigen is called the "type-specific" antigen. Those antigens, possessed in common by several types, which are responsible for the serological cross reactions are designated as "group antigens". The purpose of this investigation was to study quantitatively (using the method of Heidelberger and Kabat to measure agglutinin nitrogen) the serological cross reactions that occur among Shigella flexneri types Ia, Ib and III. In so far as it seemed practical, a quantitative serological analysis was made of types Ia, Ib and III antisera. The type-specific antibody in each serum and the group "6" antibody in types Ib and III antisera was measured. It is this "group 6" factor, possessed in common by both Ib and III cells, which is responsible for the close serological relationship of these two types. [TRUNCATED]

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University.

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